Though I haven’t laid my hands on Suzanne Collin’s The Hunger Games, the movie directed by Gary Ross fills in my gap of ignorance with its lucid plot. There is no required reading before entering the cinema in order to understand the first part of the trilogy. The book has been turned into a powerful movie which is gripping and almost cult creating.
Set in the future, the movie begins with the choosing of “tributes” from District 12th of Panem. Those between ages 12 to 18 are chosen and send to fight and kill each other and survive, until one remains and is declared the winner. Jennifer Lawrence who plays Katniss Everdeen is introduced hunting a deer, a skill she has mastered for her survival. Lawrence and Liam Hemsworth (Peeta), are the chosen participants for the annual 74th Hunger Games aired nationwide. Despite being a potential kill, Peeta confesses his love for Katniss. And this unrequited love is well utilized by Katniss to survive, escape and manipulate her chances of survival.
The violence is gory, and will make you cringe every few minutes of the film. The constant chasing and the ruthless killings will make you wonder how are the viewers affected, an aspect Ross seems to have left to the imagination of the audience.
The Hunger Games aims to illustrate the horrors of reality shows like Big Brother. Survival of the fittest is the most important message delivered through the film. Though, according to some it might be a disappointment when compared to the book,it heralds an almost Potter like cult amongst “young adults”. And as terrifying as it is, The Hunger Games has brought back the focus on women. Millions of young female fans, want to be Katniss –who has power as well as passion.
Set in the future, the movie begins with the choosing of “tributes” from District 12th of Panem. Those between ages 12 to 18 are chosen and send to fight and kill each other and survive, until one remains and is declared the winner. Jennifer Lawrence who plays Katniss Everdeen is introduced hunting a deer, a skill she has mastered for her survival. Lawrence and Liam Hemsworth (Peeta), are the chosen participants for the annual 74th Hunger Games aired nationwide. Despite being a potential kill, Peeta confesses his love for Katniss. And this unrequited love is well utilized by Katniss to survive, escape and manipulate her chances of survival.
The violence is gory, and will make you cringe every few minutes of the film. The constant chasing and the ruthless killings will make you wonder how are the viewers affected, an aspect Ross seems to have left to the imagination of the audience.
The Hunger Games aims to illustrate the horrors of reality shows like Big Brother. Survival of the fittest is the most important message delivered through the film. Though, according to some it might be a disappointment when compared to the book,it heralds an almost Potter like cult amongst “young adults”. And as terrifying as it is, The Hunger Games has brought back the focus on women. Millions of young female fans, want to be Katniss –who has power as well as passion.
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| "May the odds be ever in your favor" |
